US escorts 40 vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through Strait of Hormuz

The US military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, marking what two US officials described as a wartime high. The operation unfolded as Iran and the United States exchanged a new round of strikes on Tuesday.

US forces used air, sea and space assets to protect the vessels while attacking Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. The officials said American forces also faced waves of drone attacks and neutralized anti-ship cruise missiles during the escort operation.

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full court press

At the same time, the United States struck nearly 60 military targets around the strait. The targets included air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities. US Central Command has been directed to focus its efforts on the waterway and on preventing oil exports from leaving or entering Iranian ports, one official said.

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mowing the grass

The operation forms part of the Trump administration’s broader pressure campaign, which officials described as a “full court press” involving attacks near the strait, escorts for commercial vessels and a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Officials said US forces expect to continue offensive strikes because Iran has shown it can rebuild its military capabilities. One official compared the continuing attacks to “mowing the grass” and a game of “whack-a-mole”.

The successful convoy did not remove the wider risks. Energy companies remain cautious about sending ships through the strait, even with military protection. Energy prices remain high and have contributed to turbulence in global bond markets. US officials also said efforts focused on Iran’s nuclear program had been pushed into the background for now, while President Donald Trump has suggested that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium could remain buried and monitored by satellite imagery.

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whack-a-mole